Corey Dillon, Randy Moss, Albert Haynesworth, and now Ochocinco too. All players with different skill sets but they all have one thing in common, they suffer from a ‘all about me’ attitude and a diva complex.
When Corey Dillon came to New England, people all over where doubting Coach Belichick’s ability to turn Dillon into a team player. One Super Bowl later and a member of the New England Patriots All-2000s Team, the Corey Dillon trade was excellent. When the Patriots traded for Randy Moss, there where comments such as “I wish I could share what Kraft must be smoking to go for that trade” on a lot of the NFL related sites. In 2007, Randy Moss broke records and caught 23 touchdowns and 1,493 yards. Nuff’ said.
Haynesworth though is on an entirely different level than Dillon and Moss. Haynesworth has received his money already, has had success to some degree, and he has essentially pulled a Tully Banta-Cain on the Redskins. Haynesworth may be a headcase, but who better to deal with a headcase than Coach Belichick and his staff. The Patriots are polar opposites of the Redskins and the Patriots have very little invested in Haynesworth unlike the Redskins.
The Redskins as an organization is a complete mess. No offense to Mike Shanahan, but he didn’t create the most stable environment last season. Taking McNabb out of the game and putting in Rex Grossman is such an example . When Haynesworth was with Jeff Fisher and the Titians, he was very productive and the player we all remember. As far as stats go, Haynesworth racked up 24 total sacks and 72 assisted tackles. In his two years in Washington, he had 6.5 sacks and 11 assisted tackles. Last year he had 2.5 sacks in 8 games . Mike Wright, our sack leader last season, had 5.5 sacks. I bring up his time in Tennessee because it is a more stable environment like New England. If Jeff Fisher can handle him, Coach Belichick can.
The trade itself is a win-win. If it works out, our defensive line is one of the best, if not the best, in the league. If the trade doesn’t work and Coach Belichick has to cut Haynesworth, we lose a 5th round pick (a hit or miss pick). Heck, if Haynesworth is even marginally good this upcoming season, he would be an upgrade over Gerard Warren.
As Michael Lombardi said “When he is on the field, he has to be doubled. With Vince Wilfork lining up next to him, it spells more than trouble for opposing offensive lines.”
